Review Summary: Diminishing returns.
Enter Shikari has always been known for their fun and unique blend of high-energy electronic music juxtaposed with metal instrumentals and anthemic choruses. Since 2017’s
The Spark, they’ve leaned into a softer, more polished sound, yet they’ve remained consistent at putting out high-quality music. The one thing they haven’t done much of in the last decade or so, however, is evolve. But why should they need to? After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Their surprise new album,
Lose Your Self, feels like a rehash of 2023’s
A Kiss For The Whole World (which itself was a rehash of 2020’s
Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible). While the album is far from being bad, their schtick is beginning to feel a bit stale and tiresome.
To address the album’s positives first,
Lose Your Self begins with an absolute bang: the opening/title track is a great big fireball of energy, featuring one of the best choruses on the whole album.
Find Out The Hard Way… maintains the positive momentum from the opener with its optimistically upbeat chorus and surprisingly heavy breakdown.
Lose Your Self hits its peak with
The Flick Of A Switch I, which is a clear standout that leans heavy on the band’s electronic sound, somewhat akin to their 2017 track
Shinrin-Yoku.
Unfortunately, following the conclusion of
The Flick Of A Switch I, the album’s quality takes a noticeable dip.
i can’t keep my hands clean is a completely unnecessary and repetitive entry into the album’s tracklist; perhaps it could’ve worked better as a fully fleshed out song, but as it is, it’s a waste of 90 seconds and feels out of place with the rest of the album.
it’s OK starts off decently with a bass-heavy groove and semi-spoken word satirical lyrics, but is let down by its underwhelming and unimpactful chorus. The album’s closing trio of songs -
Spaceship Earth I, II, & III - feel undercooked and incohesive with one another as well.
The simple truth is: if you’re already a fan of Enter Shikari, especially their more recent work, you’ll surely find something to enjoy on
Lose Your Self. There’s more good than bad here, and even the weaker moments remain listenable. That being said, it’s starting to feel like the band is running on fumes creatively, and that they’re overdue for a new direction of some kind, or perhaps a full-on attempt at returning to their heavy roots. They’ve gotten away with rehashing the same style for years, but I can’t help but feel like rehashing
Lose Your Self would be a very poor decision.
Lose Your Self is a relatively enjoyable and fun listen, but it’s not one I expect to revisit often.
3 out of 5
